Earlier this fall, Action News Investigates found a direct tie between poverty and test scores in Allegheny County -- the poorer the school, the worse its test scores.One school is bucking that trend and becoming a national model.Steubenville, Ohio, is a struggling mill town best known for a rape scandal that led to the indictment of the school superintendent on charges of obstructing justice. But one local school has a remarkable track record. Despite a high poverty rate, it ranks among the top achievers in the entire state of Ohio.VIDEO: Watch Paul Van Osdol's reportDrive through Steubenville and you'll see abandoned houses, vacant lots, telltale signs of an old factory town that's barely hanging on. Amid the devastation is a ray of hope. Kids are all smiles as they get off the bus and head into Wells Academy.Wearing uniforms, they walk quietly, single-file, to their classrooms."You walk into any classroom and the kids are engaged," principal Shawn Crosier said.In a traditional classroom, you have the teacher in front telling kids what to do and answering their questions. That's not the case at Wells Academy. When students have questions, they don't ask the teacher. They ask another student.While the kids work out the problems, the teacher stays in the background, only stepping in when absolutely necessary."With the questioning they do and the way the questions are asked and the way the kids are expected to respond, I think that's what helps us do a lot better on the tests,” teacher Sara Carrocci said.What's more, the kids like it.“I think it's better to talk to our different classmates to see what their answers are and build from their answers,” fourth-grader Raegan Hayes said.“It helps me learn because I can learn about the book and understand the book more,” fourth-grader Bryce Huff said.Wells is the No. 2 achieving school in Ohio this year, and it was No. 1 last year, despite the fact that 40 percent of its students come from economically disadvantaged families."We have a school district that was poor, not supposed to do well, and we do well,” assistant superintendent Barry Gullen said.Another reason for their success: They start early. Wells has preschool for 3- and 4-year-old children."The early learning program is absolutely essential," parent Jennifer Blackburn said. "My first-grader was reading in kindergarten, and reading well. At first grade, he's above grade level. And that, to me, is pivotal to his success."The school gets parents involved and makes sure they stay involved."The children have to read 20 minutes every night and write something about what they read, and it has just helped them tremendously," said Elena Crisante, a parent of two daughters who have gone through Wells."The parents have to sign off on it. That's checked on a daily basis," said Crosier. "And if that stuff is not happening, we're calling those parents."The Wells curriculum was created by Success For All, a school reform program started by Johns Hopkins University.Reform models are a flavor of the month at some districts, but not Steubenville. They've stuck with Success For All for 15 years.“Times keep changing and different schools pick up on a new wave. We're so successful because we've stayed with SFA,” said Tricia Saccoccia, the school’s reading and math facilitator.The cost is just $87 per student at Wells Academy. Even struggling Steubenville can afford that -- a small investment paying big dividends."We had the mills that shut down, we have a hard time with poverty in our area, we have a high crime rate, but the school district, it always bounces back,” Blackburn said.Success for All has been used in some other area school districts -- including New Castle and Duquesne -- but none of them have achieved like Steubenville.The program's founder said no other district has gone all-in like Steubenville, and that has made a real difference.

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Steubenville, Ohio, is a struggling mill town best known for a rape scandal that led to the indictment of the school superintendent on charges of obstructing justice. But one local school has a remarkable track record. Despite a high poverty rate, it ranks among the top achievers in the entire state of Ohio.

Drive through Steubenville and you'll see abandoned houses, vacant lots, telltale signs of an old factory town that's barely hanging on. Amid the devastation is a ray of hope. Kids are all smiles as they get off the bus and head into Wells Academy.

Wearing uniforms, they walk quietly, single-file, to their classrooms.

"You walk into any classroom and the kids are engaged," principal Shawn Crosier said.

In a traditional classroom, you have the teacher in front telling kids what to do and answering their questions. That's not the case at Wells Academy. When students have questions, they don't ask the teacher. They ask another student.

While the kids work out the problems, the teacher stays in the background, only stepping in when absolutely necessary.

"With the questioning they do and the way the questions are asked and the way the kids are expected to respond, I think that's what helps us do a lot better on the tests,” teacher Sara Carrocci said.

What's more, the kids like it.

“I think it's better to talk to our different classmates to see what their answers are and build from their answers,” fourth-grader Raegan Hayes said.

“It helps me learn because I can learn about the book and understand the book more,” fourth-grader Bryce Huff said.

Wells is the No. 2 achieving school in Ohio this year, and it was No. 1 last year, despite the fact that 40 percent of its students come from economically disadvantaged families.

"We have a school district that was poor, not supposed to do well, and we do well,” assistant superintendent Barry Gullen said.

Another reason for their success: They start early. Wells has preschool for 3- and 4-year-old children.

"The early learning program is absolutely essential," parent Jennifer Blackburn said. "My first-grader was reading in kindergarten, and reading well. At first grade, he's above grade level. And that, to me, is pivotal to his success."

The school gets parents involved and makes sure they stay involved.

"The children have to read 20 minutes every night and write something about what they read, and it has just helped them tremendously," said Elena Crisante, a parent of two daughters who have gone through Wells.

"The parents have to sign off on it. That's checked on a daily basis," said Crosier. "And if that stuff is not happening, we're calling those parents."

The Wells curriculum was created by Success For All, a school reform program started by Johns Hopkins University.

Reform models are a flavor of the month at some districts, but not Steubenville. They've stuck with Success For All for 15 years.

“Times keep changing and different schools pick up on a new wave. We're so successful because we've stayed with SFA,” said Tricia Saccoccia, the school’s reading and math facilitator.

The cost is just $87 per student at Wells Academy. Even struggling Steubenville can afford that -- a small investment paying big dividends.

"We had the mills that shut down, we have a hard time with poverty in our area, we have a high crime rate, but the school district, it always bounces back,” Blackburn said.

Success for All has been used in some other area school districts -- including New Castle and Duquesne -- but none of them have achieved like Steubenville.

The program's founder said no other district has gone all-in like Steubenville, and that has made a real difference.